For the first time in his very short coaching career, Brent Venables is tasked with rallying his troops after a loss. This Oklahoma team hasn’t reached its potential, and that’s OK for a football team at the end of September. However, as it gets deeper into conference play, it will have to evolve and find a new gear to tap into. Otherwise, any chance of playing in the Big 12 Championship game could wind up off the table.
The first opponent it will see after the loss is the TCU Horned Frogs. Last year in Norman, Oklahoma dominated TCU’s defense and put up 52 points en route to a 52-31 win. TCU no longer employs long-time head coach Gary Patterson, who helped the Horned Frogs to 11 bowl victories in 21 seasons.
New head coach Sonny Dykes has the Horned Frogs off to a 3-0 start. They come into the game feeling great after beating SMU, their Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex rival.
It will not be easy for Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon. TCU has looked pretty solid for the most part. For a team that comes in with a defense carrying a bruised ego after the rushing clinic the Wildcats put on, Oklahoma takes on a TCU team with the 27th-ranked passing offense in the country.
Here are three keys to a Sooners win on Saturday.